PLNU vs. Gonzaga

Deciding between Point Loma Nazarene University and Gonzaga University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Point Loma Nazarene University
Gonzaga University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • PLNU San Diego, CA
  • Gonzaga Spokane, WA
  • Setting
  • PLNU Large City
  • Gonzaga Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • PLNU 4,757
  • Gonzaga 7,470
  • Type
  • PLNU Private 4 Year
  • Gonzaga Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • PLNU #250
  • Gonzaga #180
  • Religious Affiliation
  • PLNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Gonzaga Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • PLNU Non-profit
  • Gonzaga Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • PLNU
  • Gonzaga

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • PLNU $46,250
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Room & Board
  • PLNU $13,650
  • Gonzaga $15,730
  • Average Net Price
  • PLNU $39,696
  • Gonzaga $40,117
  • Average Grant Aid
  • PLNU $20,702
  • Gonzaga $33,390
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • PLNU 94%
  • Gonzaga 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • PLNU 3,265
  • Gonzaga 8,759
  • Admitted
  • PLNU 2,732
  • Gonzaga 7,155
  • Acceptance Rate
  • PLNU 83.7%
  • Gonzaga 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • PLNU 21.4%
  • Gonzaga 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • PLNU 1270
  • Gonzaga 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • PLNU 28
  • Gonzaga 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • PLNU 3.65
  • Gonzaga 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • PLNU A-
  • Gonzaga A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • PLNU Very High
  • Gonzaga Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • PLNU
  • Gonzaga
  • ACT Range
  • PLNU 25/32
  • Gonzaga 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • PLNU 1175/1365
  • Gonzaga 1190/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • PLNU Test optional
  • Gonzaga Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • PLNU Feb 15, 2027
  • Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • PLNU 13:1
  • Gonzaga 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • PLNU
    • Business (23%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Gonzaga
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • PLNU 72%
  • Gonzaga 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • PLNU $53,500
  • Gonzaga $61,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • PLNU 79%
  • Gonzaga 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • PLNU $25,000
  • Gonzaga $26,394
  • Median Loan Payment
  • PLNU $258
  • Gonzaga $272

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • PLNU 33%
  • Gonzaga 44%
  • % Women
  • PLNU 67%
  • Gonzaga 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • PLNU High
  • Gonzaga Low
  • HBCU
  • PLNU No
  • Gonzaga No
  • % White
  • PLNU 59%
  • Gonzaga 72%
  • % Asian
  • PLNU 5%
  • Gonzaga 5%
  • % Black
  • PLNU 2%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • PLNU 23%
  • Gonzaga 10%
  • % Native American
  • PLNU 1%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • PLNU 1%
  • Gonzaga 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • PLNU 7%
  • Gonzaga 6%
  • % International
  • PLNU 1%
  • Gonzaga 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • PLNU 2%
  • Gonzaga 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • PLNU 72%
  • Gonzaga 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • PLNU 26%
  • Gonzaga 48%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • PLNU Yes
  • Gonzaga Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • PLNU No
  • Gonzaga No
  • Meal Plan
  • PLNU Yes
  • Gonzaga Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • PLNU No
  • Gonzaga No
  • Daycare Facility
  • PLNU No
  • Gonzaga No

Comparable Facts

Compare Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA with Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gonzaga University is larger than PLNU based on total student enrollment (7,470 students vs. 4,757 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Point Loma Nazarene University is located in San Diego, CA (Large City setting); Gonzaga University is in Spokane, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • Point Loma Nazarene University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gonzaga University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Point Loma Nazarene University 13:1; Gonzaga University 12:1.

PLNU vs. Gonzaga Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Gonzaga? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Point Loma Nazarene University than Gonzaga ($39,696 vs. $40,117).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 13.2% lower than at Gonzaga University ($13,650 vs. $15,730).
  • Gonzaga University is 20% more expensive for in-state tuition than PLNU (about $9,230 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20% higher at Gonzaga than at Point Loma Nazarene University (about $9,230 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $46,250.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Gonzaga University than at Point Loma Nazarene University (100% vs. 94%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gonzaga University students is 61.3% larger than aid received by Point Loma Nazarene University students ($33,390 vs. $20,702).

PLNU vs. Gonzaga Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Gonzaga? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Gonzaga and PLNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gonzaga University (1290) is 20 points higher than at PLNU (1270).
  • Incoming Gonzaga students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at PLNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 1175/1365; Gonzaga University 1190/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Point Loma Nazarene University 25/32; Gonzaga University 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PLNU - Test optional; Gonzaga - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: PLNU Feb 15, 2027; Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Gonzaga students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at PLNU (3.65).
  • PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (83.7%) than Gonzaga (81.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.4% at PLNU vs. 17.5% at Gonzaga.

PLNU vs. Gonzaga Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PLNU and Gonzaga? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Gonzaga University's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than Point Loma Nazarene University's (72%).
  • Graduates from Gonzaga University earn a median of about $8,100 more per year than PLNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,600 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Point Loma Nazarene University graduates have a $1,394 lower median loan debt than Gonzaga graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,394).
  • Among borrowers, PLNU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gonzaga graduates ($258 vs. $272).
  • More Gonzaga graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLNU students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.